Gov. Andrew Cuomo, not legislative leaders, should take the lead in cleaning up legislative
corruption in New York State, voters say 54 - 32 percent in a Quinnipiac University poll
released today. Corruption is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious problem, 79 percent of
voters say.

Gov. Cuomo is doing an excellent or good job cleaning up legislative corruption, 56
percent of voters tell the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll. A total of
29 percent of voters rate Cuomo's clean-up efforts as "not so good" or "poor."

Clean-up efforts by legislative leaders are "not so good" or "poor," 63 percent of voters
say, while 24 percent say "excellent" or "good."

New York State voters oppose 76 - 17 percent a pay raise for legislators, with
overwhelming opposition among every group. Higher pay will not attract better candidates,
voters say 81 - 14 percent. Voters also oppose 48 - 41 percent public financing of campaigns
for governor, other statewide office and the Legislature.

"Is legislative corruption a big deal? This poll echoes the headlines. New Yorkers don't
like what they see," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"More New Yorkers say it's Gov. Andrew Cuomo's job to clean up the legislature's
house, and they give him pretty good marks for doing it. Thumbs down for legislative leaders.

"Perhaps prompted by the persistent stories of Albany misbehavior, New Yorkers
overwhelmingly reject a legislative pay raise. If their pay was raised, would that produce a
higher caliber of lawmaker? Thunderously, voters say 'no.'"

New York State voters approve 70 - 16 percent of the job Cuomo is doing as governor,
with Republican approval at 66 - 21 percent, Democratic approval at 73 - 12 percent and
approval from independent voters at 71 - 15 percent. Approval is 68 - 19 percent upstate,
70 - 13 percent in New York City and 73 - 13 percent in the suburbs.

Cuomo made the right decision to avoid a major role in last week's Democratic National
Convention, voters say 51 - 20 percent, including 65 - 7 percent among Republicans, 39 - 30
percent among Democrats and 57 - 16 percent among independent voters.

"A comparison of two Cuomos was prompted by the Democratic convention: Gov.
Mario Cuomo lit up the house as the 1984 keynoter while Gov. Andrew Cuomo kept his candle
under a bushel. New Yorkers think the current governor was right to take a 2012 back seat.
There's always 2016," Carroll said.

Hydro-Fracking

By a narrow 45 - 41 percent, New York State voters say the economic benefits of drilling
for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale outweigh the environmental concerns. Republicans
support drilling 72 - 16 percent while Democrats are opposed 54 - 31 percent and independent
voters are divided with 46 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed.

Upstate voters support drilling 48 - 40 percent, up from 43 - 44 percent in a July 26
Quinnipiac University poll and the strongest upstate support since a 51 - 39 percent result when
the question first was asked August 11, 2011. New York City voters are split with 41 percent for
drilling and 44 percent opposed. Suburban voters support drilling 49 - 39 percent.

Drilling will create jobs, voters say 81 - 12 percent, with no opposition from any group.

"Upstate voters, who have the most to gain, and the most to lose, have tipped the
statewide balance in favor of drilling for natural gas," Carroll said.

From September 4 - 9, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,589 New York State voters
with a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell
phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Andrew Cuomo is handling his job as Governor?

13. Currently, Democrats control the New York State Assembly and Republicans control the New York State Senate. After the election in November, would you prefer that the Democrats control both houses of the legislature, the Republicans control both houses of the legislature, or would you prefer that control is split as it is today?

TREND: Currently, Democrats control the New York State Assembly and Republicans control the New York State Senate. After the election in November, would you prefer that the Democrats control both houses of the legislature, the Republicans control both houses of the legislature, or would you prefer that control is split as it is today?

44. As you may know, former New York Governor Mario Cuomo was the keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention in 1984, while his son Andrew Cuomo chose to play no major role in this year's Democratic National Convention. Do you think Andrew Cuomo made the right decision or is doing the wrong thing?

TREND: Do you think that by raising legislators' pay, they'll be able to attract better candidates or don't you think so?

Sep 12 Jul 26
2012 2012
Yes 14 15
No 81 80
DK/NA 5 5

47. Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view?

TREND: Some people say there should be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the economic benefits. Others say there should not be drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale because of the environmental impact. Which comes closer to your point of view?

51. Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know?

TREND: Natural gas drilling companies want to practice hydro-fracking in New York State. Hydro-fracking is the process of pumping water and chemicals into the ground under high pressure to fracture rocks. This releases natural gas trapped in the rocks which is then collected. Do you think hydro-fracking will cause environmental damage or not, or don't you know?

Q59a. (Summary table for ques 59-66/More likely) If a candidate for public office is a/an -attribute- would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? (This table reports only those saying an attribute makes them more likely to vote for the candidate.)

Q59b. (Summary table for ques 59-66/Less likely) If a candidate for public office is a/an -attribute- would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote? (This table reports only those saying an attribute makes them less likely to vote for the candidate.)

62. If a candidate for public office is - a born-again Christian would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote?

65. If a candidate for public office is - very overweight or obese would that make you more likely to vote for that candidate, or less likely to vote for that candidate, or wouldn't it matter to your vote?